Suryaprakash, Rochester New York, 30 October 2009

[raja]

Suryaprakash (vocal), Raghavendra Rao (violin), Tanjore Murugaboopathi (mridangam)

Song list:

1. Sivaloka nadanai, mayamalavagowla, rupakam, Dandapani Desikar (S)
2. Ramabhi rama, durbar, misrachapu, Tyagaraja
3. Pahi Jagajjanani, hamsanandhi, adhi, Swati Tirunal, (RNS)
4. Guruguhadhanyam, balahamsa, misra-jampa, Dikshitar (R)
5. Marugelara, jayanthasree, adhi(fast), Tyagaraja
6. Rama neeyeda, kharaharapriya, adhi, Tyagaraja (RST)
7. RTP- mohanam, adhi, "Vennai thinna chinna kanna - venugopala"
8. Deena karunakarane, misra yaman, adhi, Papanasam Sivan
9. Mayi sanwarae, sindhubhairavi, Meera bhajan
10. Mangalam


Suryaprakash's biography describes his voice as "vibrant and felicitous"...Indeed, the Rochester concert bore testimony to this statement. His performance did equal justice to bhavam and layam. Shruthi alignment was impeccable. Proportion, balance, variety and repertoire were excellent. He would frequently splash creative kannakkus and nadais against a backdrop of sowkyam sarvalaghu patterns that are a hallmark of TVS and MMI. In this sense, Suryaprakash masterfully balances the dual responsibility of upholding the legacy of his lineage while making a unique stamp for himself. I also appreciated his willingness and ability to boldly walk off the beaten path and push the envelope with his creativity, rather than "playing it safe".

The Hamsanandhi alapanai was one of the highlights. Suryaprakash did a shruthi-bedam excursion into Mohanam, using daivatham as base. This gave the raga a distinctly Hindustani flavor (he commented that he chose this raga with knowledge of an eclectic audience). Pahi jagajjanani, and accompanying neraval and swara passages were rendered with verve and energy, bringing out good chemistry among the 3 artistes. Another highlight was Guruguhadhyanam in the rarely heard Balahamsa. Suryaprakash rendered the alapanai and song with ease and emotion.

The Karaharapriya alapanai and "Rama Neeyeda" were rendered with classicism, and showed years of disciplined training and a mark of an artiste steeped in sampradhayam. The ensuing RTP was yet another highlight. The alapani rendition was exquisite, with creative prayogas woven into time-tested phrases of Mohanam. The eduppu of the pallavi was at 1/4 idam in 2-kalai adhi talam. Suryaprakash did trikalam - another departure from the TVS/MMI tradition that brought out his adeptness at layam. He performed ragamalika neraval and swaram in jOg, kAnada, and suddhasAranga.

"Deena Karunakarane" left the audience wanting for more 1940 MKT hits...but by then it was 11:15pm, so Suryaprakash wrapped up with a haunting Sindhubairavi and Meera bajan.

Raghavendra Rao's violin accompaniment was measured and sensitive, and his responses to alapani, neraval, and kalpanaswarams were simply outstanding. The multi-string harmonies he played in Mohanam during the thAnam had the audience spellbound.

Murugaboopathi provided very apt accompaniment, with good anticipation and maintenance of kAlapramAnam. The thani comprised interesting nadais and korvais in chatusram and tisram.

All in all, a terrific concert! If this troupe is coming your way, don't miss them!

[rajeshnat]

3. Pahi Jagajjanani, hamsanandhi, adhi, Swati Tirunal, (RNS)
7. RTP- mohanam, adhi, "Vennai thinna chinna kanna - venugopala"
I also appreciated his willingness and ability to boldly walk off the beaten path and push the envelope with his creativity, rather than "playing it safe".
...
All in all, a terrific concert! If this troupe is coming your way, don't miss them!

Raja,
Last year at the end of kutcheri season I made a post just indicating the best sub main was pAhi jagajanani of suryaprakash in mudhra and sanjay's niravathi sukhadA in ravichandrika at Parthasarathi. Incidentally both are out as reviews as today.

This rtp in mohanam is brand new to me . Must have been scintillating ,was the thAnam sung with mrudhangam accompaniment

Incidentally suryaprakash is getting reviews from smaller cities like minneapolis , birmingham and now rochester. Nevertheless great . I would love to know how was his concert in houston last week as he sang for madurai mani iyer foundation. Also IIRC atlanta and maryland was done too
This week he is singing
Saturday, November 7 at Dallas TX Indian Fine Arts - DFW
Sunday, November 8 at Memphis TN Rasikapriya of Memphis

[raja]

Rajeshnat,
Interesting coincidence of reviews.
Yes, thAnam came with mridangam accompaniment.

[arasi]

raja,
Nice to have a review from cold-bound Rochester where Suryaprakash's sizzling singing would have warmed up the weather somewhat. Good selection of songs.

Rajesh,
I have heard TNS sing mohanam RTP with veNNai tinna. Quite a pallavi line.

Suryaprakash,
I am making a request well in advance for dIna karuNAkaranE. Hope you will sing it in your concerts during the season when I am there. I don't want to lag behind Rajesh!
I hope many folks in the US get to hear you and write reviews too. Who knows? You may sing even one of my songs

[Rasika911]

Sanjya has sung the vennai tinna pallavy in sahana.

[KSJaishankar]

TVS rendered this pallavi in Mohanam in 1991 at the Academy - an invigorating Mohanam.

Arasi - IIRC, the TNS "Vennai Thinna" pallavi line is a bit different. I think it goes "Vennai Thinna Chinna Thanamaa", rather than ... "Kannaa". I do not remember the uttarangam, but am reasonably certain it was not "Venugopala".

Jaishankar

[PUNARVASU]

IIRC, itis 'veNNai tinna cinna tanamA shrI vEnugOpAlA' .

[arasi]

Jaishankar,
Oops! I meant TVS--Surya's guru! My recall of the words is as follows: veNNai tinna cinnak kaNNA vA! vENugOpAlA...

[raja]

Jaishankar,
the TNS pallavi that I heard at the Academy in '93 was "veNNai tinna cinna thanamA - harE KrishnA" rendered in Sindubhairavi. As I recall it was in tisra gati , so quite a different structure.